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Donges (Municipality, Loire-Atlantique, France)

Donez

by Arnaud Leroy

Source: Pascal Vagnat

Presentation of the city
Description of the flag

See also:

Presentation of the city

Donges is a city of 6,000 inhabitants, located on the northern shore of the estuary of the river Loire, 15 km east of Saint-Nazaire.

The name of Donges (in Breton, Donez) comes from donjon, donjon. The castle built in Donges by the Viscounts of Donges (XIth cntury) was destroyed in 1127.

An oil refinery was built in Donges in 1932-1935. The city and its refinery were totally trashed during the Second World War and rebuilt from scratch after the liberation. The St. Martin's church was rebuilt in concrete and is famous for its calvary and coloured glass-windows by Max Ingrand. The refinery of Donges belongs to TotalElfFina. It is the second French refinery, with a yearly production of 9 millions of metric tons of refined oil.

Ivan Sache, 11 November 2002

Description of the flag

The flag of Donges is white with the municipal coat of arms placed in the middle of the flag.

The shield used on the municipal arms shows the arms of the first Viscounts of Donges. The torches recall the refinery and the anchor the port of Donges. The Latin motto of the city, which seems to be written on the scroll beneath the shield is: Ad rivum Ligeris, labore nobila potens semper eris, which translates as: "On the banks of the Loire, through work which ennobles you, you shall always be mighty".

Ivan Sache, 11 November 2002